Pressure spraying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pressure spraying apparatus for spraying fluids comprising a fluid reservoir tank and a fluid handling assembly including a pump assembly attached in fluid communication therewith, fluid transfer assembly and fluid supply assembly each communicating with the fluid reservoir tank through the fluid handling assembly. The fluid transfer assembly and fluid supply assembly are coupled to one another through a plurality of selectively controlled valves and attached conduits comprise the fluid handling assembly to control the intake and dispensing of fluid into and from the pressure spraying apparatus through the pump assembly.

United States Patent 1191 ODell 1 1 PRESSURE SPRAYING APPARATUS [76]Inventor: James R. ODell, 12159 Craft Dr.,

Largo, Fla. 33540 22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 403,209

152] US. Cl 222/178, 222/318, 239/127,

239/142, 230/148, 239/172 [51] Int. Cl BOSb 9/00 [58] Field of Search239/127, 130, 142, 148,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,309 5/1928 Etnyre239/127 2,123,156 7/1938 .lagoe... 239/127 X 2,381,649 8/1945 Dalton 11/18 X 2,506,911 5/1950 Zeigler 137/565 X 2,692,798 10/1954 Hicks139/142 X 2,792,255 5/1957 Bellows 23 /l72 1 Jan.7,11975 Booker 239/148X Sampson et a1 222/333 X Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminerAndres Kashnikow Attorney, Agent, or FirmStein and Orman [57]ABSTRACT A pressure spraying apparatus for spraying fluids comprising afluid reservoir tank and a fluid handling assembly including a pumpassembly attached in fluid communication therewith, fluid transferassembly and fluid supply assembly each communicating with the fluidreservoir tank through the fluid handling assembly. The fluid transferassembly and fluid supply assembly are coupled to one another through aplurality of selectively controlled valves and attached conduitscomprise the fluid handling assembly to control the intake anddispensing of fluid into and from the pressure spraying apparatusthrough the pump assembly.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PRESSURE SPRAYING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A pressure spraying apparatusfor spraying substantially viscous fluids comprising a fluid transfermeans and fluid supply means coupled to one another through a fluidhandling means to control the intake and dispensing of fluid from theapparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art Coal tar pitch and coal tar pitchemulsion sealers are widely used in finishing and sealing asphaltsurfaces such as parking lots, drive ways and the like. Due to thegenerally large surface areas involved, mechanized applicators arehighly desirable to reduce labor and material costs. As a result, anumber of presssure spraying apparatus to apply asphalt, asphalt coaltar pitch and coal tar pitch emulsion sealers have been developed.

A large number of mechanized applicators have been successfullydeveloped for applying asphalt and the like.

However, due to the viscosity of coal tar pitch emulsion sealers,mechanized applications to spray these substances have met with limitedsuccess. Specifically, these substances are often heated or diluted toreduce their viscosity and permit ease of pumping. The additionalequipment, material and effort attendant with these techniques is, ofcourse, costly and time consuming. In addition, these apparatusgenerally include manual means for loading the product into theapparatus or some separate pressurized product source. In eitherinstance, the technique is inefficient. Furthermore, the necessity of aseparate pressurized source further inhibits the use of such apparatusat various remote sites.

Due to the ineffectiveness of existins apparatus, coal tar pitch andemulsion sealers are often applied manually by squeezees. This is bothinefficient and ineffective. That is, manual application is extremelytime consuming and tends to cover only the lower points of the surfacebeing treated.

In view of the present state of the art, a need for a self-containedpressure spraying apparatus for applying highly viscous fluids exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pressure sprayingapparatus. More specifically, the pressure spraying apparatus includes afluid handling means to control the flow of fluid into and out of thepressure spraying apparatus.

The pressure sprayingapparatus comprises a reservoir means mounted on aportable support frame for transporting the apparatus from site to site.Fluid is drawn into the reservoir means by a fluid handling meansthrough a fluid transfer means and sprayed from the reservoir means bythe fluid handling means through a fluid supply means.

The fluid transfer means comprises a fluid inlet transfer means and afluid outlet transfer means. The fluid supply means comprises a fluidinlet supply means and a fluid outlet supply means.

The fluid handling means comprises a pump assembly coupled between thefluid inlet transfer means and fluid outlet transfer means and betweenthe fluid inlet supply means and fluid outlet supply means by a fluidinlet control means and fluid outlet control means respectively. Thefluid inlet control means and fluid outlet control means each comprise aplurality of valve means to control the flow of fluid through the fluidhandling means. By coordinating the positions of the valve means, fluidmay be drawn into or sprayed from the apparatus through the fluidhandling means. Alternately, fluid may be sprayed from the apparatus andrecirculated through the reservoir means simultaneously.

The fluid outlet transfer means further includes an auxiliary fluidoutlet transfer means to transfer fluid from the reservoir means to areceiving tank or the like.

To operate, the valve means are set to draw fluid into the tank throughthe fluid transfer means and fluid handling means. To spray, the valvemeans are reset to draw from the tank through the fluid supply means andfluid handling means.

Alternately, the valve means may be set to draw fluid from the tankthrough the fluid inlet supply means, fluid handling means, fluid outlettransfer means and out the auxiliary fluid outlet transfer means.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of thenature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the spraying apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed top view of the tank of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed end view of the tank.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the pump of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. II, a pressurespraying apparatus generally indicated as 10 comprises portable supportmeans 12, reservoir means 14, fluid handling means 16, fluid transfermeans including fluid inlet transfer means 18 and fluid outlet transfermeans 20 and fluid supply means including fluid inlet supply means 22and fluid outlet supply means 24.

Portable support means 12 comprises support frame 26 mounted on two setsof wheels 28 and 30 arranged in tandem on a pair of axles (not shown)extending the width of frame 26. Extending from the forward portion ofsupport frame 26 is attachment means or yoke 32 for coupling apparatus10 to a propelling vehicle (not shown). Mounted on yoke means 32 is noseparking wheel 34. Nose parking wheel 34 comprises a fixed upper member36 and extendable lower member 38 telescopingly disposed therein.Attached to the lower end of lower member 38 is wheel 40. Lower member38 is extended and retracted from upper member 36 by adjustment means orcrank 42 by a gear and tooth arrangement (not shown). Lower member 38 isextended such that wheel 40 engages the ground or other supportingsurface to support apparatus 10 in a substantially horizontal positionwhen in use and movable upward relative to yoke 32 when the apparatus isto be moved from site to site by a truck, car or other suitablemotorized vehicle.

Reservoir means 14 comprises an air-tight tank 44 fixedly mounted onsupport frame 12. Attached to one side of tank 44 is platform means 46.Platform means 46 comprises a substantially horizontal support shelf 48extending outwardly from the side wall of tank 44 and supporting members50 extending outwardly from tank 44 to support shelf 48. Platform means46 supports fluid handling means 16 as more fully described hereinafter.Pressure relief means 52 and access means 54 are also arranged on tank44. Pressure relief means 52 comprises a vacuum relief valve having anopen" and closed position to provide pressure equalization to prevent avacuum from developing within tank 44. Access means 54 comprises a hatchor cover pivotally attached to tank 44 to permit access to the interiorof tank 44 for cleaning or adding various ingredients, Removal drainplug 53 is attached to the lower portion of tank 44 for cleaning anddraining the interior of tank 44.

Fluid handling means 16 comprises a fluid inlet control means, fluidoutlet control means and a pump assembly. Fluid inlet control meansincludes inlet transfer control means comprising first valve means 56,inlet handling conduit means 58 and inlet supply control meanscomprising second valve means 60. Fluid outlet control means includesfluid outlet transfer control means comprising third valve means 62,fluid outlet conduit means including manifold 64 and outlet supplycontrol means comprising fourth valve means 66.

The pump assembly comprises pump means 68 and drive means 70. Pump means68 is attached to shelf 48 by base means 72. As shown in FIG. 4, pumpmeans 68 comprises housing 74 including inlet port 76, outlet port 78and propelling means 80 disposed therein. Propelling means 80 comprisesgears 81 and 83 mounted on drive shafts 82 and 85 respectively. As shownin FIG. 1, drive means 70 comprises motor 84 including clutch 86 andpulley 88 operatively coupled by pulley belt 90. Pulley 88 is attachedtodrive shaft 82 such that pulley 88 and gear 80 rotate together inresponse to motion of pulley belt 90 when motor 84 is activated. Thefluid is captured" between the teeth and carried clockwise throughhousing 74 to outlet port 78. This structure permits the pumping ofhighly viscous fluids. Although a motor/pulley arrangement is shownother motorized pump assemblies may be suitable.

Fluid inlet transfer means 18 includes inlet transfer conduit 92comprising a flexible hose coupled to inlet transfer control means 56.Fluid outlet transfer means comprises outlet transfer conduit 96 coupledto fluid outlet transfer control means 62 and a substantially L-shapedconduit 98 having a substantially vertical conduit 100 and substantiallyhorizontal lower conduit 102. As best shown in FIG. 2, lower conduit 102is disposed relative to the side of tank 44 to provide agitation of thefluid therein. Fluid outlet transfer means 20 further includes fluidauxiliary outlet transfer means including auxiliary transfer controlmeans comprising valve means 104 and auxiliary transfer conduit 106.

Fluid inlet supply means 22 comprises substantially vertical supplyconduit 108 coupled to fluid inlet supply control means 60. As shown inFIG. 3, supply con duit 108 extends to the bottom of tank 44. At leastone aperture 110 is formed in the lower portion of supply conduit 108 topermit fluid flow from the interior of tank 44 into and through supplyconduit 108 as more fully described hereinafter.

Fluid outlet supply means 24 includes outlet supply conduit 112, outletsupply control means comprising valve means 114, spray wand 116 andoutlet supply nozzle means 118.

Initially, clutch 86 is disengaged. To transfer fluid into tank 44,valve means 56 and 62 are open while valve means and 66 are closed.Inlet transfer conduit 92 is inserted into the fluid to be transferred.With motor 84 operating and clutch 86 engaged, fluid is drawn throughinlet transfer conduit 92, valve means 56, inlet handling conduit 58,pump 68, manifold 64, valve means 62, fluid outlet transfer means 20 andinto tank 44. The level of fluid in tank 44 may be visually checkedthrough access means 54. Clutch 86 is then disengaged and inlet transferconduit 92 is removed from the fluid and filled with water. Clutch 86 isthen engaged for a few seconds to suck the water into tank To spray orapply the fluid, valve means 56 is closed while valve means 60, 62 and66 are open. Fluid outlet supply means 24 is removed from frame 12. Toprevent an internal vacuum, relief valve 52 is opened. Motor 84 is thenstarted with clutch 86 disengaged. As clutch 86 is engaged, fluid isdrawn through fluid inlet supply means 22, valve means 60, inlethandling conduit 58, pump 68 to manifold 64. With valve means 114 open,a portion of the fluid is fed through valve means 66 and fluid outletsupply means 24, and a portion recycled into tank 44 through fluidoutlet transfer means 20. Valve means 62 is adjusted or partially closedto control the spray pressure. Valve means 104 is closed during thetransferring and spraying operations.

To discontinue spraying operations, valve means 114 is closed, valvemeans 62 is opened and clutch 86 disengaged. Motor 84 is then shut down.Once fluid outlet supply means 24 is replaced, apparatus 10 is ready fortransit and reuse.

When transferring fluid into tank 44, fluid inlet control means andfluid outlet control means are each in the transfer mode. When sprayingfluid, fluid inlet control means and fluid outlet control means are inthe supply mode.

Auxiliary transfer means may be used to transfer the contents of tank 44to a receptacle by closing valve means 56 and 66 and opening valve means60, 62 and 104 which will permit fluid to be drawn through the openvalves and from auxiliary transfer conduit 106.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method andarticle without departing from the scope of the invention it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:

l. A pressure spraying apparatus for spraying fluid comprising a supportframe, a reservoir means mounted on said support frame, fluid handlingmeans including fluid inlet control means, pump assembly and fluidoutlet control means, said fluid inlet control means having a transferand supply mode and said fluid outlet control means having a transferand supply mode, fluid transfer means and fluid supply means, said fluidtransfer means disposed in fluid communication with the interior of saidreservoir means when said fluid inlet control means is in said transfermode and said fluid outlet control means is in said transfer modethrough said pump assembly, said fluid supply means disposed in fluidcommunication with the interior of said reservoir means when said fluidinlet control means is in said supply mode and said fluid outlet controlmeans is in said supply mode, said fluid transfer means including afluid inlet transfer means and a fluid outlet transfer means, said fluidinlet transfer means in fluid communication with the inlet of said pumpassembly through said fluid inlet control means, and said fluid outlettransfer means coupled between said fluid outlet control means and theinterior of said reservoir means; said fluid supply means including afluid inlet supply means and a fluid outlet supply means, said fluidinlet supply means coupled between said fluid inlet control means andthe interior of said reservoir means, said fluid outlet supply meanscoupled to the outlet of said pump assembly and in fluid communicationwith said fluid inlet supply means through said fluid inlet controlmeans.

2. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid inletcontrol means comprises a first valve means coupled between said fluidinlet transfer means and the inlet of said pump assembly and a secondvalvemeans coupled between said fluid inlet supply means and the inletof said pump assembly.

3. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid outletcontrol means comprises a third valve means coupled between said fluidoutlet transfer means and the outlet of said pump assembly and a fourthvalve means coupled between said fluid outlet supply means and theoutlet of said pump assem- 6 bly.

4. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third valvemeans and said fourth means are coupled together by manifold means.

5. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of saidfluid transfer means extends into said reservoir means, the outlet ofsaid fluid transfer means arranged relative to the interior of saidreservoir means to agitate fluid within said reservoir means.

6. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluidtransfer means further includes fluid auxiliary outlet transfer means totransfer fluid from said reservoir means to an auxiliary receptacle.

7. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluidauxiliary outlet transfer means includes an auxiliary control means tocontrol fluid flow from said auxiliary transfer means.

8. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fluid outletsupply means includes an outlet supply control means to control fluidflow from said fluid outlet supply means.

9. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 3 wherein fluid isrecirculated through said fluid inlet supply means and said fluid outlettransfer means when said first and fourth valve means are closed andsaid second and third valve means are open.

10. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reservoirmeans includes a valve control means to selectively vent the interior ofsaid reservoir means to the atmosphere.

11. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pumpassembly comprises a housing and a pair of gears disposed therein tooperatively engage one another, each said gear comrising a substantiallycircular body having a plurality of teeth formed about the peripherythereof.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 a858 Dated ry 7 1975 James R. O"De11 Inventor(s) It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1", line 35, delete *"existins" and insert thecrfor 1* existingColumn 6, line 3, after "fourth" insert valve e:

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of June 1975.

(SEAL) Attest a C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patentsand Trademarks Attesting Officer

1. A pressure spraying apparatus for spraying fluid comprising a supportframe, a reservoir means mounted on said support frame, fluid handlingmeans including fluid inlet control means, pump assembly and fluidoutlet control means, said fluid inlet control means having a transferand supply mode and said fluid outlet control means having a transferand supply mode, fluid transfer means and fluid supply means, said fluidtransfer means disposed in fluid communication with the interior of saidreservoir means when said fluid inlet control means is in said transfermode and said fluid outlet control means is in said transfer modethrough said pump assembly, said fluid supply means disposed in fluidcommunication with the interior of said reservoir means when said fluidinlet control means is in said supply mode and said fluid outlet controlmeans is in said supply mode, said fluid transfer means including afluid inlet transfer means and a fluid outlet transfer means, said fluidinlet transfer means in fluid communication with the inlet of said pumpassembly through said fluid inlet control means, and said fluid outlettransfer means coupled between said fluid outlet control means and theinterior of said reservoir means; said fluid supply means including afluid inlet supply means and a fluid outlet supply means, said fluidinlet supply means coupled between said fluid inlet control means andthe interior of said reservoir means, said fluid outlet supply meanscoupled to the outlet oF said pump assembly and in fluid communicationwith said fluid inlet supply means through said fluid inlet controlmeans.
 2. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluidinlet control means comprises a first valve means coupled between saidfluid inlet transfer means and the inlet of said pump assembly and asecond valve means coupled between said fluid inlet supply means and theinlet of said pump assembly.
 3. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim1 wherein said fluid outlet control means comprises a third valve meanscoupled between said fluid outlet transfer means and the outlet of saidpump assembly and a fourth valve means coupled between said fluid outletsupply means and the outlet of said pump assembly.
 4. The pressurespraying apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third valve means and saidfourth means are coupled together by manifold means.
 5. The pressurespraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of said fluid transfermeans extends into said reservoir means, the outlet of said fluidtransfer means arranged relative to the interior of said reservoir meansto agitate fluid within said reservoir means.
 6. The pressure sprayingapparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid transfer means further includesfluid auxiliary outlet transfer means to transfer fluid from saidreservoir means to an auxiliary receptacle.
 7. The pressure sprayingapparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid auxiliary outlet transfer meansincludes an auxiliary control means to control fluid flow from saidauxiliary transfer means.
 8. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 3wherein said fluid outlet supply means includes an outlet supply controlmeans to control fluid flow from said fluid outlet supply means.
 9. Thepressure spraying apparatus of claim 3 wherein fluid is recirculatedthrough said fluid inlet supply means and said fluid outlet transfermeans when said first and fourth valve means are closed and said secondand third valve means are open.
 10. The pressure spraying apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said reservoir means includes a valve control means toselectively vent the interior of said reservoir means to the atmosphere.11. The pressure spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pumpassembly comprises a housing and a pair of gears disposed therein tooperatively engage one another, each said gear comrising a substantiallycircular body having a plurality of teeth formed about the peripherythereof.